Read this sentence from the speech in which Lincoln describes his perspective about why each side chose to go to war. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came. How does this sentence advance Lincoln’s viewpoint? It shows that Lincoln believes that both sides are to be acknowledged for their efforts to avoid war despite the fact it happened anyway. It indicates that Lincoln believes one side made every effort to resolve differences to avoid war, but the other side only wished to fight to exert its influence over the other. It shows Lincoln believes that both sides are equally to blame for leading the country to war because they refused to cooperate. It demonstrates Lincoln feels one side placed personal interest before the good of the country as a whole, while the other side was willing to fight to keep the country intact.